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EMAIL #1 – Fat Burning Zone Myth ------------------------------------------------ There's a lot of misinformation out there about exercise and nutrition. Here's one about the so-called fat-burning zone. Myth: I will lose body fat more efficiently by working out in the fat-burning zone— doing my aerobic workouts at a low, rather than high, intensity. Explanation: Many aerobic exercise programs and videos feature low-intensity workouts purporting to maximize fat burning. The argument is that low-intensity aerobic training will allow your body to use more fat as an energy source, thereby accelerating the loss of body fat. While it is true that a higher proportion of calories burned during low-intensity exercise come from fat (about 60 percent as opposed to approximately 35 percent from high-intensity programs), high-intensity exercise still burns more calories from fat in the final analysis. For example, if you perform 30 minutes of low-intensity aerobic exercise (i.e., at a level of 50 percent of maximal exercise capacity), you'll burn approximately 200 calories. About 120 of those, or 60 percent, come from fat. However, exercising for the same amount of time at a high intensity (i.e., 75 percent of your maximal exercise capacity) will burn approximately 400 calories, and 35 percent of them, or 140 calories, will come from stored fat. So by sticking to the fat-burning zone for their workouts, many individuals are wasting valuable time. Keep in mind that you lose weight and body fat when you expend more calories than you consume, not because you burn fat (or anything else) when you exercise. Of course, the less intense form of exercise has its benefits as well. For example, because many overweight people tend to find that lower-intensity exercise is more comfortable, they may, therefore, be willing to engage in such workouts. The point to remember is that low-intensity workouts do, in fact, promote weight and fat loss. You just have to do them for a longer period of time. Check out our exclusive 2 week trial at http://www.AmeriProFitness.com Be sure to use Affiliate ID# (your #) for Special Bonuses! Thanks, (Your Name)
EMAIL #2 – Oldies but Goodies Check out these oldie but maybe not so goodies brought to you by http://www.AmeriProFitness.com
So you've canceled your gym membership. Could it be time to resurrect some old fitness gadget you bought years ago -- one of those hot, miracle products from infomercials or drugstore checkout lines promising great abs, buns and thighs? We looked at a few of the more popular workout products from yesteryear and asked experts whether it's worth digging them out or if they should stay buried in the back of the garage. Ab Wheel What is it? A rubber-enforced wheel with handles that promises to tone and strengthen abdominal muscles when you grip the knobs and roll into a plank position on the ground from your knees,then roll back again. Does it work? It can target the abs if done properly, but you'll also be risking injury, says Fabio Comana, an exercise physiologist with the American Council on Exercise, a nonprofit fitness education and certifying organization. He warns against using the wheel for that reason. "You're transferring a lot of stress from the shoulders and lower back into a single wheel with two hands," he says. "As it lacks a brake mechanism, the risk for injury is greater. And mentally, we feel that if some is good, more is better -- so you roll too far out. . . . It causes stress in the lower back." Verdict: Toss it. Ab Roller What is it? Shaped roughly like a letter C when viewed from the side, the ab roller includes a headrest to support the head and neck during crunches. The user lies on his or her back, grabs hold of the top device and then rolls into a crunch. Does it work?A 2001 study of abdominal workout equipment found little to no difference in crunches done with or without the Ab Roller. Comana does appreciate that the Ab Roller -- unlike the Ab Wheel -- puts you in the correct position for a sit-up, but he still feels it's easy to overdo it on this machine. Muscle fatigue, he s ays, will mean you end up using lats, pecs and triceps instead of the abs to curl the upper body toward the hips. Ron Eustis, a Westside personal trainer, had another problem with the Ab Roller: storage. He tossed his because he couldn't figure out where to stash it. Justin Price, a personal trainer with IDEA Health and Fitness Assn., a leading membership organization for health and fitness professionals, says that this device carries its own injury risk. "It's an upper back roll-up, so your torso rounds," he says. "That wouldn't be a good idea, considering most people sit at a computer and round their shoulders forward [there already]." You could set yourself up for a rounded spine and injury in the long run. Verdict: Toss it. Thigh Master What is it? Made popular by sitcom star Suzanne Somers in the late 1980s and early 1990s, the first version of this brand's leg press promised to help you "squeeze, squeeze your way to shapely hips and thighs." A spring-loaded hinge connected the two pieces of metal tubing, forming a V shape. Users would place the device between their legs and press together until their knees touched. The ThighMaster could be used while lying on one side, legs parallel or sitting up. Does it work? It will help give the appearance of muscles, but not add strength, Price says. "[With the ThighMaster], you'll build muscle, but it's not going to be functional in any way. That's because it works the muscles of the inner thigh in a concentric fashion, meaning it shortens the muscles. . . . A side step and squat would work those inner thigh muscles much more effectively." As with the ab devices, Price adds, "you can't target one thing in the body, because the body works as a whole. It's like you gave all the work to one employee. That employee has a nervous breakdown and the others get lazy." Verdict: Toss it.
Stability Ball What is it? Often called a Swiss ball, this firm, inflatable sphere is usually used for abdominal exercises, requiring the user to balance on the ball face up while contracting into forward or side crunches. Similar exercises can target other muscle groups. The ball is also used in connection with balance and weight training. Does it work? Eustis says the stability ball can be used for everything from glutes to push-ups. It's great to pair the ball with weights for a core workout, adds Kathy Stevens, educational director for the Aerobics and Fitness Assn. of America, a certifying agency of fitness professionals. Though a 5- or 10-pound weight wouldn't feel like much on a bench, she says, lifting that amount with your back on the ball "really works your core." Eustis says he also uses the stability ball for push-ups, leg, low back and glute exercises. The cons? Comana, who likes this device, warns to watch for wear and tear of the material that eventually may cause the ball to burst -- not the best thing when you're on your back and holding weights. Don't look to this or any other toning device to burn fat from targeted areas, Stevens says. "There is no such thing as spot reduction. You can strengthen and tone specific muscles with these devices, but you also need to do something more cardiovascular in nature to lose the weight or the fat that might be on top of those muscles." Verdict: Keep it, but be wary if yours has been shoved into a closet, bounced or kicked. The Step What is it? Literally a riser, but so much more. The Step is a sturdy plastic board used in cardio routines (up, down, L-step, over the top) as well as with pulleys and dumbbells for strength training. Does it work? For those who have the discipline to keep up the pace, the step can be a great way to get the heart rate up, says Eustis, who first used an egg crate when he began his business, Fearless Fitness Personal Training, more than 10 years ago. "[And with] a pair of dumbbells, you can do a full-body workout." Because stepping up and down on a raised platform is bound to get boring when it's done without the aid of a class or a personal trainer, Stevens recommends checking out step aerobics videos or inviting a friend to join you in your routine. Verdict: Keep it. Check out our exclusive 2 week trial at http://www.AmeriProFitness.com Be sure to use Affiliate ID# (your #) for Special Bonuses! Thanks, (Your Name)
EMAIL #3 – I hope you don’t do this So I was at the health club the other day and as I started my workout, I noticed a lady on her cell phone. Usually this isn't a big deal but as I kept going through my routine, I couldn't help but notice she was still on the phone and doing her exercises while talking throughout her entire workout! To say she was just going through the motions would be an under statement as she held the phone between her ear and shoulder while she exercised. As I finished my 45 minute workout, she had finally hung up. The point to all this is people wonder why they don't get the results they are looking for. They kind of just go through the motions or think just because they are doing 'something', they are going to reach their goals. The reality is, if you follow a simple plan and do it properly, you will reach your goals faster, easier and with less stress than you thought possible. If you want to see a demo of what I mean, go to http://www.AmeriProFitness.com and click on 'Login' to check it out. Check out our exclusive 2 week trial at http://www.AmeriProFitness.com Be sure to use Affiliate ID# (your #) for Special Bonuses! Thanks, (Your Name)
EMAIL #4 – Lifestyle Changes Begin… Millions of Americans are thinking about resolutions; it’s time to be realistic. Are you even ready? Change does not occur as a single event; rather, it is a process that develops over time. Precontemplation: You are in denial. You are not intending to change anytime soon (that is, within six months). You are unaware of and/or denying the need for lifestyle change. You’re pessimistic, especially about your ability to change or the real benefits of becoming more active and modifying your diet. Contemplation: You’re considering it. Weighing the costs, effort, treatment and time commitment, you mull over joining a fitness or weight-loss program in the near future. This stage is often characterized by ambivalence. You may remain in this stage for months or even years. Preparation: You’ve made the first move. You’ve scheduled an appointment with a personal trainer, studied up on the latest diets and exercises, started to limit your consumption of junk food or you have joined a gym and are exercising periodically. Action: You are changing your behavior. You’re going to your yoga class, walking regularly, planning meals and/or keeping a diet record. Unfortunately, during the action stage, you are at greatest risk for relapse. Maintenance: You’ve done it. You have successfully sustained lifestyle modification. You continue to actively utilize methods to monitor and control your behavior. You may even be avoiding situations that would increase the probability of slips and relapse. Are you ready? If you are, but are unsure how to get started, check out http://www.AmeriProFitness.com Check out our exclusive 2 week trial at http://www.AmeriProFitness.com Be sure to use Affiliate ID# (your #) for Special Bonuses! Thanks, (Your Name)
EMAIL #5 – 3 Reasons Your Not Losing…. I receive dozens of fitness questions each day from people all over the world, but one of the most common questions I receive are from people who are having trouble losing their excess stomach fat no matter what they try. I think part of the problem is that there are too many "quick fix" scams that are all over the internet and infomercials giving you false hope that it is really quick and easy to lose stomach fat and get six pack abs. But you and I both no this isn't true, so I'm here to give you 3 real world reasons why you're not losing stubborn stomach fat. 1) Most people are still wasting their time doing hundreds of crunches and sit ups every day in the false hope that this will burn belly fat. Crunches and sit ups won't help you get six pack abs.
2). Most people are doing the wrong type of cardio exercise wasting lots of time week after week, month after month walking on a treadmill and getting no results for their efforts. Well here's a secret, not only are they not getting results, they are actually at risk for storing fat and getting opposite of the outcome that they want.
3). Most people aren't eating enough. I know it sounds funny, but most people aren't eating enough to lose stubborn stomach fat. When you don't eat enough, again you are at risk of having the opposite affect of what you want as your body actually stores stomach fat. The trick is to eat the right amounts of food at the right time - but making sure your foods are enjoyable and tasty so it doesn't feel like you're depriving yourself of your favorite foods. Check out the exact system that I used on myself and hundreds of my clients from all over the world lose stubborn stomach fat. Here's the site. Check out our exclusive 2 week trial at http://www.AmeriProFitness.com Be sure to use Affiliate ID# (your #) for Special Bonuses! Thanks, (Your Name)
EMAIL #6 – The Awesome, BUT Often… People are feeling the pressure to trim some extra padding off their midsections. The message hasn’t gotten lost on companies. Infomercials showcasing picture-perfect bodies vow that you too can enter the Promised Land of rock-hard bodies and ripped abs. All it takes is a few minutes of your time, their equipment and a good credit card number. Magazine ads touting the “before” and “after” belly effect of popping diet pills also offer quick fixes as long as you’re willing to pay for them. If only it were that easy to get that awesome ripped, six-pack. So here comes the ‘ugly’ truth: To sport washboard abs of the likes of Olympic swimmer Dara Torres and rap artist LL Cool J you need to be genetically blessed, eat healthy and exercise—a lot. I know what you’re thinking: If “awesome abs” are out of my league, I may as well just curl up on the couch with a bag of chips and continue watching the miracle work of the cynical medical genius “House” or CSI’s forensic scientists on television. Ultimately, this defeatist attitude will only add more pounds to your frame, zap your energy and likely deteriorate your health condition and physical well-being. Studies have shown that physical inactivity and an unhealthy diet are risk factors for chronic illnesses, including diabetes, heart disease and obesity. The Truth About Better Abs The good news is that working on a healthier, more physically active lifestyle, doesn’t have to be painful. It just takes consistency and a willingness to stick to a plan that’s right for you. While not everyone will be able to build the perfect abs, trimming overall body fat can go a long way toward a flatter tummy. Check out our exclusive 2 week trial at http://www.AmeriProFitness.com Be sure to use Affiliate ID# (your #) for Special Bonuses! Thanks, (Your Name)
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